The 10^th edition of the festival gathered thousands of locals and tourists in Târgu-Neamț, the audience being larger in number than ever.

Overall, 500 participants per formed on the stage of the festival. Out of the 22 groups which entered the competition, The Bears from Dărmănești from Bacău County and Mlădițe de Folclor from Oglinzi, Neamţ County, ranked first. There were two folk ensembles which shared the second ranking, one ensemble occupying the third place and three special mentions in the competition.

Those who attended the festival enjoyed the parade of ancestral customs, the mask dances, the display of characters, the plough, the old men and the hags, the dances of the bears and of the goats. All these traditions are very well preserved and promoted around Neamţ area.

New Year’s Customs and Traditions Festival is organized by Neamț County Council, in partnership with Târgu-Neamț Local Council, “Ion Creangă” House of Culture in Târgu-Neamț and “Carmen Saeculare” Centre for Culture and Arts in Neamț.

We take this opportunity to express a sincere thank you to all the ensembles from Neamț County and the Republic of Moldova, that participated in this edition, and proudly told the story of the New Year’s traditions:

• “Miorița” Folk Group, Anenii Noi, Republic of Moldova
• The Bears from Dărmănești, Bacău County – 1^st ranking
• The procession of summoners from Boiștea – 2^nd ranking
• Datini Drăgușănene, Drăgușeni
• The assault of Bears from Boțești, Girov
• The Ox plow from Humulesti
• Arnăuţi Band, Humulești
• The Lads Band from Moldova, Muntenii de Sus, Vaslui – Special mention
• Mlădițe de Folclor, Oglinzi – 1^st ranking
• The Young Goat, Oglinzi
• The Old Goat from Răucesti, Oglinzi
• The Big Bear from Oglinzi
• The Arnăuti Band from Răucesti, Oglinzi
• The Old Goat from Oglinzi
• Floricica de la Munte (carolers), Piatra Neamț – 2^nd ranking
• The Silent Goat, Preutesti, Timișești
• Bison Land Ensemble, Târgu Neamt
• Ceata Mare Timișești; Ion Albu, Timișești
• Arnăutii Topolița, Topolița
• The summoners from Trifești – Special mention
• “Codruleţul” Folk Ensemble
• Vorona, Botoșani – 3^rd ranking
• The stag from Zbereni, Cotnari commune, Iaşi County – Special mention